URTICA DIOICA

Urtica dioica, often known ascommon nettle,burn nettle,stinging nettle,nettle leaf, or just anettleorstinger, is aherbaceousperennialflowering plantin the familyUrticaceae.‍‍‍‍‍‍​​​‍​​​​​​ Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa,it is now found worldwide. The species is divided into sixsubspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs calledtrichomeson the leaves and stems, which act likehypodermic needles, injectinghistamineand other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation upon contact ("contact urticaria", a form ofcontact dermatitis). The plant has a long history of use as a source fortraditional medicine, food, tea, andtextileraw materialin ancient (such asSaxon) and modern societies.